Deanmore P&C - New Parents Information

20 Useful Things for Parents to know about Deanmore
by the Deanmore Parents & Citizens Association (P&C)

1. Canteen

Operated by the P&C under the management of Deanne Bradshaw (a school parent), the canteen is open for recess and lunch on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays for all students from Pre-primary to Year 7. The canteen is strictly peanut and nut-free due to a number of serious allergies in the school. Volunteers are necessary, especially on Thursdays and Fridays, so please go and say hello to Dee and put your name down at the canteen at least once each year to give a hand. Your child/ren will love seeing you behind the counter!

The current canteen menu is available on the canteen page.

2. Sausage Sizzles

These are run once a month on a Wednesday lunchtime by P&C volunteers. The price is $2 for a sausage (or two for $3.50) and 50c for a juice. If you can spare 1-2 hours to help out, please let Dee know.

3. School Uniforms

Deanmore has a school uniform that reflects the school’s proximity to the sea. The school and P&C are very committed to children wearing the uniform so please ensure your child wears the correct uniform each day. We also have a strict “No Hat, No Play” policy so make sure your child’s hat is in their bag.

Second-hand Uniforms: The P&C runs a second-hand uniform shop on Tuesday afternoons (2:30 - 3:00pm) at the store room between the undercover area and the library. If you grab a bargain it’s because someone else kindly donated it. If you return the favour, our uniform swap shop will only get better!

All proceeds raised from the second-hand uniform shop go straight back to the school (in 2008 we raised $547 through sales of donated uniforms), so come and grab a bargain, pick up a spare hat, or donate any outgrown uniforms - and help your school at the same time.

Deanmore Summer Uniform Order Form

New school hats are also available for purchase at the school canteen.

Further details are available on the uniform page.

4. The Bulletin and School Newsletter

The P&C Bulletin is published twice per term by the Editor Karen Sawyer, and it contains useful information about activities, such as fundraising, canteen roster, reports on meetings and other interesting bits and pieces. Current and past issues are available on the bulletin page. If you would like to submit an article, please contact Karen directly –

The Bulletin also accepts ads for a small fee – contact Karen for details.

The School Newsletter is produced by the Principal and is published approximately fortnightly. Current and past issues are available on the newsletters page.

With the Bulletin, the School Newsletter and other school wide notes, only the oldest student of each family takes a copy home.

5. Assemblies

These are held every 2-3 weeks, usually on a Friday, and presented by students. These are great opportunities to not only observe your kids in action, but to also see what other classes are up to. You can also get a tea/coffee and a muffin from the canteen while you’re watching so take a couple of extra dollars along.

6. Term Calendars

Put out by the school at the start of each term they included reminders on assemblies, report days, student/teacher meetings, excursions, incursions, sausage sizzles, and fund raising events. In fact, they are an essential tool so make sure you get your copy from your child at the start of term and hold onto it!

7. Fundraising and Class Fundraising Reps

The P&C must fundraise to provide extra items and services for students that are essential but for which the Department of Education does not provide adequate funding, such as laptops, computers, books etc. In 2008 the P&C purchased two electronic whiteboards for the school and co-funded the lease on 20 computers at a cost of $5,000 per annum. In recent times we have also funded a drama teacher, computer programs, musical instruments, a “Life Be In It” incursion into the school, and air-conditioning for several classes.

Each class has 1 or 2 fundraising representatives who work with a group to plan and organise various events such as the Easter raffle, Mothers’ Day stall, family fun nights, chocolate drives, a car boot sale, football tipping, and other events. Please think about being a fundraising representative for your class or, if that is not possible, ensure that you give your classroom representatives as much support as you can.

8. P&C meetings

Held on the last Monday of each month at 7.30pm in the staff room, all parents are welcome to come along. It usually goes for about an hour and a half. This is a great forum for finding out what’s happening at the School. It also allocates funding for items identified by it and the school, and discusses issues of concern to parents about the school. The Principal and often other teachers attend so it is a good forum for information exchange.

9. School Council

The Council meets once a term and sets high level policy for the school. Initiatives to come out of the School Council include the Values project. Community members, teachers and the P&C are all represented at the School Council and its report appears in the Bulletin.

10. Library

The library was renovated in 2005 and has a great selection of books which students can borrow on a weekly basis. Older children can undertake online computer research from the library’s networked computer.

11. Nut-free Zone

For some time Deanmore has been a nut free school because of the number of life–threatening allergies of a number of students in all years. This means that products containing nuts such as peanut paste, Nutella, and muesli bars etc. containing nuts are banned from the school and canteen. Lunch is eaten by all students in the undercover area under the supervision of teachers to encourage everyone to eat lunch and socialise with one another. Refer to page 32 of the Deanmore Information Booklet on food anaphylaxis which includes alternative food ideas.

12. Playground

A new playground was installed in 2007, using funds from a Federal Government grant and funds raised by the P&C. You can view the facilities on the playground page.

13. Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day celebrations

As well as running raffles and/or stalls for these days, junior primary classes usually undertake activities highlighting and celebrating Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day.

14. Moline House Anglican Homes for the Aged

To help facilitate values of caring and looking out for senior members of our community, the school has developed a comprehensive intergenerational program incorporating different activities involving the residents of Moline House which is located across from the school in Rinaldi Cr. A highlight every year is the children’s Christmas concert, and the Easter Egg hunt is always looked forward to by the pre-primary students.

15. Parent Buddy Program

The fundraising rep in each classroom is also there to help new parents to the school navigate their way through the School. If you have any questions or need some help etc., just ask them.

16. Website

Deanmore P&C website: www.deanmorepandc.org.au – There is nothing about Deanmore that you cannot find on this website. Ross Parker has done a fantastic job at providing access to the minutes and reports of all meetings, canteen menus, the wish list, school announcements, the term calendar etc. You will also find the latest details on the progress of our new school. All parents should have this in their favourites.

17. Information Booklet

The school produces an Information Booklet (available on the Reports page) containing lots of very useful information, so please keep it, put it somewhere safe where you can remember it, and use it as a resource. It contains information on the following:

• Parent Matters
• Health and Safety
• Curriculum – including sport, homework, swimming, languages, primary extension and challenge program (PEAC), special music classes, and physical education.
• Playground policy
• Behaviour Management and Bullying policies
• Internet usage
• Music and Reading
• Complaints Management Policy
• Curriculum, Reporting and Assessment Policy
• Food Anaphylaxis

18. Clean Up Days

The last week of school for all classes involves a clean up day where students clean their classroom, desks and chairs. Parents are welcome to assist and of course this sets a great role model for caring for our school resources.

19. School notes

Camps, incursions, excursions are available for all students in all classes. Check schoolbags for notes coming home with your child, and check the School Calendar. Don’t forget to send your money and permission slips in early to save the teachers hassles.

20. Walk to School

The P&C’s Roadwise Co-ordinator organises walk to school days 2-3 times per year, usually on a Wednesday, where all children (and parents) are encouraged to walk to school. In 2008 the School organised a walk to Trigg Beach and back for all students. Look out for this again in Term 4 of 2009. A Walking School Bus operates from the West on Friday mornings – more details are on the Walking School Bus page.

Last modified: 17 February 2009, 09:34 PM WST (+0900)